Method of providing a lubricant to braided cord

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to the method of impregnating a packing material with a lubricant. The impregnant is extruded by pulsations into a central portion of braided packing as it is being formed.

O United States Patent [151 3,653,295

Pintard [451 Apr. 4, 1972 54] METHOD OF PROVIDING A 3,124,032 3/1964Webster et al. ..s7/23 x 3,302,382 2/1967 Kluttz 57/120 LUBRICANT ToBRAIDED CORD 1,098,257 5/ 1914 Healey et al. ..87/23 [72] inventor:Frederick B. Pinlard, Somerville, NJ. 2,308,825 I/ 1943 Rawlings....87/1 2,322,756 6/1943 Wallder ...87/1 [73] Ass1gnee: Johns-ManvilleCorporation, New York, 2,344,181 3/1944 Stone n "87 2,478,940 8/1949Papg 87/1 x 22 Fil d; 30, 1970 3,018,605 1/1962 Sheri-ill et al ..l84/7X PP N04 33,414 Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney-John A. McKinneyand Robert M. Krone [52] U.S.C| ..87/l,57/162l,88 47 /[l 3l1i [57]ABSTRACT [511 lnt.Cl. ..D04c 1/00 This disclosure relates to the methodof impregnating a [58] Field of Search ..87/ l 23; 57/162, 7, 164, 120;packing material with a lubricant. The impregnant is extruded 134/1 R,15 R, 7 by pulsations into a central portion of braided packing as it isbeing formed. [56] kefe'ems Cited 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,025,038 12/1935 Cannon 87/23 CAPSTAN 2 BRAIDER TIMERSWITCH ON OFF 24 26 REGULATOR 4 AIR LINE ACCUMULATOR 2 22 a SPOOLS 44 201 l8 CORE YARN IMPREGNANT V 21 5311 PUMP X334 20 32 Il/ IMPRE(5NAT|NGFEED SOLENOID BRAIDER PATENTEDAPR 4 I972 SHEET 1 0F 2 TIMER BRA! DERSWITCH REGULATOR AIR LINE IMPREGNANT PUMP D R m 5 O 5 RN w k mwm B M M DF w w m IMPREGNATING FEED IMPREGNANT SUPPLY JTTZRNEV PATENTEDAPR 419123,653,295

SHEEI 2 OF 2 //v l/EN TOR FREDERICK B. P/NTARD ATTORNEY METHOD OFPROVIDING A LUBRICAN'I TO BRAIDED CORD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Priorto this invention, braided packing, hose packing, or the like wasprovided with a lubricant during the forming process by means such as(l) permitting the strands to wipe across a surface wetted by alubricant, (2) dripping a supply of lubricant on the strands at the timeof braiding, (3) passing the finished product through a bath, (4)pickling or (5) providing a supply of lubricant in the vicinity andadjacent the strands being braided. In each of the above instances, theprocess relied upon adsorption by fibrous strands used in forming thebody. Pickling or passing the finished braided packing cord, etc.through a bath has not generally been a satisfactory process. Asbackground, the following patents are listed by way of examples: U.S.Pat. Nos. 1,094,879; 1,098,257; 1,204,065; 1,797,249; 1,861,146; and2,025,038.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned withproviding a lubricant into or among strands being braided into a packingcord. More specifically, the impregnating lubricant or the like isdeposited by pulsation directly into the center or apex of the braid ata predetermined rate and quantity.

An object of this invention is to provide a process for irnpregnatingbraided packing with a lubricant.

Another object is to provide a process for depositing the lubricant bypulse feed directly at the center or apex of the strands being braidedinto a packing cord.

Another object is to provide an arrangement whereby the pulse feeding ordelivering of impregnating lubricant is adapted to a predetermined rateand quantity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more fully understoodand further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent whenreference is made to the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a representation of apparatus for forming braided packing anddiscloses means for discharging a lubricant directly at the juncture ofthe strands being braided, 2

FIG. 2 is an enlarged showing of the braiding apparatus in more detailand with a minor variation,

FIG. 3 discloses structure corresponding to the representations in FIG.1 and in more detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is a representation ofthe arrangement of apparatus for practicing the invention disclosed andclaimed herein. The apparatus and process manufacture a braided packingmaterial wherein an impregnant such as a heavy grease or graphite isextrudedly deposited in pulsations at the internal juncture of thestrands being braided.

Numeral l0 designates generally the braiding apparatus while numeral 11designates generally the impregnating feed system for providing alubricant to the braid being formed. The apparatus of the braidercomprises a table 16 having central opening means for the upward passageof core yarn 18 (when a core yarn is used) and a conduit 20 for carryinglubricating impregnant. Table 16 is not shown in detail in either FIG. 1or FIG. 3, but it does include mechanism known in the art for movingspools 22 in planetary motion thereabout for braiding packing material12 which is temporarily collected under light tension about slowlyrevolving capstan 14. Thereafter, it passes on to a container. Likenumerals are applied to the more detailed arrangement in FIG. 3 toidentify corresponding elements or parts.

The impregnating feed system, designated generally by the numeral 11 andwhich will be fully disclosed in more detail later in thisspecification, provides a lubricant under pressure through pipe orconduit 20 to noule 26 just beneath die 24 of the braider. This nozzleis positioned and directed so as to discharge a lubricant centrally intothe strands being braided. A feed cup 28 is provided beneath the nozzleto aid in catching or retaining excess lubricant. In order that coreyarn 18 may pass to the central portion of the braid, holes may beprovided in the feed cup to permit their passage.

The braider 10 operates in a manner known in the art to form braidedpacking 12 which passes through die 24 after braiding for compacting andrefining to final desired crosssectional shape. A wiper 25 of flexiblesheath or the like wipes excessive lubricant from finished braidedpacking material 12 as it passes upwardly therethrough.

The cooperating apparatus defining the impregnating feed system 11 isshown on the left hand side in FIGS. 1 and 3. The impregnant orlubricant in the form of grease or the like is fed in intermittentpulsations at a predetennined rate to nonle 26. The impregnant supply 32is normally a very heavy grease-like substance capable of retaining itsbody form and characteristics at elevated temperatures in service ofover 400 F. An air supply 36 at about psi. passes to regulation 38 whereit is reduced to a constant outlet pressure of about 15 p.s.i. foroperating pump 34. Lubricant is thereby drawn from supply 32 anddischarged into line 20. It passes a pair of accumulators 40, 42 whichare adapted to maintain a substantially constant pressure on thelubricant to solenoid 44. This solenoid included a valve for permittingor preventing passage of the lubricant therethrough. The solenoid iselectrically connected to and controlled by a timer 46 for permittingpassage of lubricant therethrough to line 20 for delivery to nozzle 26.Timer 46 can be selectively set for desired control of solenoid 44thereby admitting lubricant to nozzle 26 at timed intermittent pulses.The timer is electrically operated through transformer 50 and switch 52as shown in FIG. 3.

The disclosure in FIG. 3 is in substantially more detail and pictorialrepresentation than that of FIG. 1 to include such items as a drain 54and shut-off valve 56 in delivery line 20. Additionally die 24 is shownconnected with an adjustable yoke 58 for positioning the die to thedesired vertical location with relation to the spools and impregnantnoule for the desired braiding.

A more detailed showing of the braiding operation is shown in FIG. 2. Itwill be noted herein that a spill collector 60 may be provided to beadjustably secured around conduit 20 to the desired height. Strands fromspools 22 normally pass on the outside of collector 60, but core yarnmay pass through opening therein (not shown) at a location closer toconduit 20. The braided packing passes through die 24 where the finalcrosssectional shape of the braided cord is assured its passage througha die is formed thereon as by slight deformation or extrusion.

In the manufacture of braided packing, specifications may varyconsiderably as to weight, shape and size. Likewise, the desiredquantity of lubricant varies. By the basic nature of the heavylubricant, it is difficult to handle for delivery of the desiredquantities, especially at low volume. Accordingly, it has been foundthat control can be obtained by the arrangement disclosed herein wherelubricant is intermittently delivered through a nonle directly into thebraid in pulses of duration and at intervals determined by the openingand closing of solenoid 44 by electrical command from timer 46.

What I claim:

1. In a process for making packing material wherein a plurality offibrous strands are brought together and braided to form an elongatebody of packing material and impregnated with a lubricant during theprocess, the improvement compris mg:

a. extruding under intermittent pulsating pressure a heavy lubricantthrough a nozzle terminating at the internal juncture of the fibrousstrands being braided whereby the lubricant is effectively forciblydistributed in a direction axially of and among the strands at thecenter of the packing material.

b. providing a supply of lubricant to the nozzle under pulsatingpressure whereby a heavy lubricant is intemiittently forcibly depositeddirectly internally among braided fibrous strands at the center of thepacking material and in general axial alignment therewith.

4. The claimed subject matter of claim 3 wherein the intermittentdelivery of lubricant is controllable by duration of pulsation andinterval therebetween.

t l IF I! i

1. In a process for making packing material wherein a plurality of fibrous strands are brought together and braided to form an elongate body of packing material and impregnated with a lubricant during the process, the improvement comprising: a. extruding under intermittent pulsating pressure a heavy lubricant through a nozzle terminating at the internal juncture of the fibrous strands being braided whereby the lubricant is effectively forcibly distributed in a direction axially of and among the strands at the center of the packing material.
 2. The claimed subject matter of claim 1 wherein the intermittent pulsations are controllable both as to duration and interval.
 3. In a process for making packing material wherein a plurality of fibrous strands are brought together and braided to form an elongate body of packing material and impregnated with a lubricant during the process, the improvement comprising: a. providing a nozzle terminating at the internal juncture where the fibrous strands are being braided, b. providing a supply of lubricant to the nozzle under pulsating pressure whereby a heavy lubricant is intermittently forcibly deposited directly internally among braided fibrous strands at the center of the packing material and in general axial alignment therewith.
 4. The claimed subject matter of claim 3 wherein the intermittent delivery of lubricant is controllable by duration of pulsation and interval therebetween. 